How to Make a Desktop Caddy From a Shoe Box

Organizing your desk or work space can become a chore in itself, especially after the clutter starts to creep in. Everyone needs at least a small amount of organization, and when school is in session, this gets even more important as homework assignments and class projects begin to pile up. Creating a desktop caddy is one of the simplest ways to help your child get a head start on getting organized and keeping his or her desk clutter-free. Follow the simple steps below to learn how to make a desktop caddy and accessorize it for school.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 sheets of green construction paper
• 3 sheets of yellow construction paper
• Glue stick
• Clear tape
• Scissors
• Child-size shoe box
• Paintbrush
• Acrylic paint – blue and red
• Empty plastic water bottle
• 3-inch or 4-inch small square box with lid
• 1-inch by 7-inch strip of orange felt
• School-themed stamps or stickers
• Heavy duty crafting glue

1. Use the glue stick to adhere the yellow construction paper to the outside of the shoebox. The pieces of construction paper do not need to be trimmed--just fold them over to the inside of the box. Secure the ends of the paper with some clear tape.

2. Adhere the sheets of green construction paper to the lid of the shoebox with the glue stick, securing the paper ends with clear tape.

3. Paint the bottom of the child-size shoebox and the smaller square box blue on both the outside and the inside. Paint the shoebox lid red.

4. Cut off the bottom of a small plastic bottle, cutting three inches from the bottom. Glue a small strip of orange felt onto the cut edge of the bottle, folding and gluing both sides down either side of the edge.

5. Decorate the outside of the lid and bottom of your shoebox with school-themed stamps, stickers, or simple sketches. These can range from apples to addition problems to ABC's.

6. Use heavy duty crafting glue to adhere the small blue box, the small red lid and the bottle bottom to the lid of your shoebox. These will serve as the compartments of the shoebox caddy.

7. Leave the caddy in a well-ventilated area and allow it to dry thoroughly before using it.

8. Fill your shoebox caddy box with school stationary--crayons, glue, pencil sharpener, erasers and other school supplies--sorting them according to the sizes of the different compartments.